Person

Bill Viola

Directing · Born 1951-01-25 · Queens, New York, USA

Biography

A pioneer in the medium of video art, Bill Viola's work explores the spiritual and perceptual side of human experience. Since 1970 he has created videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances and pieces for television. Works include Hatsu Yume (First Dream), The Passing, and installations Room for St. John of the Cross, The Messenger and The Quintet of the Astonished, recently shown at the National Gallery, London in "Encounters, New Art from Old". A 25-year survey exhibition of his work organized by The Whitney Museum of American Art recently traveled to 6 institutions in the USA and Europe. MacArthur Fellow.

Known for

Filmography

2018Wagner: Tristan und IsoldeDirector
2017Bill Viola: The Road to St. Paul'sSelf
2016MaryWriter
2014Martyrs: EarthDirector
2014Martyrs: WaterDirector
2014Martyrs: FireDirector
2014Martyrs: AirDirector
2014MartyrsDirector
2014Inverted BirthDirector
2013What Is Cinema?Self
2013Man Searching for Immortality/Woman Searching for EternityDirector
2013The DreamersDirector
2012The EncounterDirector
2012Walking on the EdgeDirector
2012Traveling on FootDirector
2011A Phrase from ChrisDirector
2008The InnocentsDirector
2008Three WomenDirector
2007Ocean Without a ShoreDirector
2006Poem B (The Guest House)Director
2005Basin of TearsDirector
2005AblutionsDirector
2005Tristan’s Ascension (The Sound of a Mountain Under a Waterfall)Idea
2005Fire WomanDirector
2004The Tristan ProjectDirector
2004The RaftWriter
2003Bill Viola: The Eye of the HeartSelf
2003EmergenceDirector
2002Going Forth By Day(segment "The Voyage")
2002Fire BirthDirector
2002The PathDirector
2002The VoyageGatekeeper
2002The Silent SeaDirector
2001Four HandsDirector
2001Catherine's RoomDirector
2001SurrenderDirector
2000The Quintet of the AstonishedDirector
2000AnimaDirector
2000Eternal ReturnDirector
2000AscensionDirector
1996The CrossingDirector
1995The VeilingDirector
1995IntervalDirector
1995TrovoadaSelf (voice)
1995The GreetingDirector
1994DésertsDirector
1992The PassingDirector
1992Slowly Turning NarrativeDirector
1992The Nantes TriptychDirector
1992Heaven and EarthDirector
1992The SleepersDirector
1990The Stopping MindDirector
1989Angel's GateDirector of Photography
1986Sodium VaporDirector
1986I Do Not Know What It Is I Am LikeHimself
1986Silent LifeDirector
1984Reverse Television - Portraits of ViewersDirector
1983Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House
1983AnthemDirector
1982Ancient of DaysDirector
1981Hatsu Yume (First Dream)Director
1980Vegetable MemoryDirector
1979The Reflecting PoolPerformer
1979MoonbloodDirector
1979Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)Director
1979Moving Stillness: Mount Rainier 1979Director
1977Memories Of Ancestral PowerDirector
1977Guadalcanal RequiemDirector of Photography
1977The Wheel of BecomingDirector
1977The Morning After the Night of PowerDirector
1977Memory Surfaces and Mental PrayersDirector
1977Sweet LightDirector
1977He Weeps for YouDirector
1976Truth Through Mass IndividuationDirector
1976The Space Between the TeethDirector
1976Four SongsDirector
1976Junkyard LevitationDirector
1976Songs of InnocenceDirector
1976Migration (for Jack Nelson)
1975Return
1975A Non-Dairy CreamerDirector
1975Playing Soul Music to My Freckles So They Won't Get LonelyDirector
1975A Million Other Things (2)Director
1975Red Tape: Collected WorksDirector
1975The Semi-Circular CanalsDirector
1973InformationDirector
—Processing the SignalHimself
—The Deluge
—The CrossingDirector

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